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Israel's Security Barrier - A Buffer is Needed Between Enemies - Moshe Ram

(Chicago Tribune) The Israeli government seriously considers objections raised by Palestinians about the route of the fence, and several changes have been made based on these requests. Every effort is being made to minimize hardship to the Palestinian population by including a system of dozens of gates designed to provide access. But while the fence can be moved or dismantled, lives lost cannot be restored. The fence will be needed as long as Palestinian political and religious leaders continue to encourage hatred of Israel and Jews in their media, mosques, and schools. The fence will be needed as long as Palestinian officials prefer self-destructive behavior such as the recent rejection of $30 million of U.S. aid to Palestinian non-governmental organizations because it was stipulated that the funds not go to entities "engaged in terrorist acts." The fence will be needed as long as terrorist leaders send young women so brainwashed to desire the destruction of "Zionists" that they choose to blow themselves up instead of watching their children grow up. The fence will be needed until the Palestinian leadership, with the full support of the Palestinian people, completely rejects terrorism as a means of achieving political objectives. The fence will be needed until Palestinian leaders arise who are, in President Bush's words, "untainted by terrorism and corruption," and can express recognition of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. Until then, Israel will not risk the lives of its people on empty promises to fight terrorism. When the Palestinians have torn down the wall of blinding anti-Israel hatred and violence that envelopes them, Israel will be more than willing to exchange the fence for bridges to peace.
2004-02-11 00:00:00
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